Boris Becker spells out reasons for coaching split with Novak Djokovic

Boris Becker helped Novak Djokovic to win his career's maiden French Open title. However, this triumph became the reason for their split.

Boris Becker spells out reasons for coaching split with Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker (Image Credit: The Sportstar-The Hindu)

Boris Becker had a successful stint with Novak Djokovic. In his three years as coach, the Serbian won a single Australian Open title, 3 Wimbledon titles and one French Open title.

The German tennis legend joined Novak Djokovic at the end of 2013 season but his exit was even more sudden. Both parted ways in 2016 when the Serbian was at the height of his career and Boris Becker was at the height of his popularity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jpS3-6txMQ

In a recent interview, the three-time Wimbledon champion revealed the reasons for making the decision to end his partnership with the Serb. The most important factor which he suggested for making such an abrupt decision after 2016 was the lack of motivation he saw in Novak Djokovic following his maiden French Open triumph.

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“Look, first of all, I love you and I respect you, and we’ve done something together that’s been an amazing journey for me. I learned things about myself, about tennis and maybe a little about you. I don’t like losing so if you want to go to Shanghai and Paris and just be happy to be there, I’m not the right guy for you. I think we’d better stop,” Boris Becker told in his documentary ‘From tennis to prison: the story of Boris Becker.’

Novak Djokovic did take care of Boris Becker’s family during his time in jail.

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Boris Becker contemplates on his time in prison

Boris Becker (Image Credit: Fox Sports)
Boris Becker (Image Credit: Fox Sports)

He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail in April 2022 for concealing assets worth £2.5 million in order to avoid paying debts after declaring bankruptcy. He was held for 231 days before being released and deported from the United Kingdom in December.

But it was during these 231 days in British jails that Boris Becker acquired some vital life lessons, albeit in a difficult way. On the occasion of the premiere of his autobiographical documentary ‘Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker,’ he opens up about this tough but crucial chapter in his life.

“It was very difficult. Jail is a very harsh punishment, and it’s meant to be, and anyone who says prison life is easy is a liar. Life is very hard there, it’s the survival of the fittest and every day, you have to find a way to survive. It taught me something that I may have already known, but never had to apply in life, and everything I learned continued to help me when I regained my freedom,” the six-time Grand Slam champion said.

“The truth is that it was very, very hard, but I made peace with that part of my life, I accepted what happened, and I really hope I learned. If prison doesn’t make you humble, I don’t know what does… When you lose everything and you’re in a little cell for 231 days, if that doesn’t make you humble, you’re lost,” he continued.

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